By Henry Uche
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, and other experts in the maritime industry are set to address rising incidents of illicit drugs in ships arriving Nigerian ports, as well as cases of stowaways in ships departing the nation’s ports.
Addressing newsmen today, the Chairman, Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) and the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO), Planning Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa affirmed that the summit slated for thursday, August 22 at Eko Hotels, Lagos, would have diplomats from the embassies of the United States and France in attendance.
With the theme: Drug Smuggling and Human Trafficking, Mr. Maiguwa said: “Ships have been detained for several months while their crew were placed on trial and forced to remain without seeing their families for several years in cases of drug smuggling. At the end of this conference, we hope that stakeholders will arrive at workable and sustainable solutions and mandate a working group to ensure the actualization of the resolutions reached.
“On the part of Human Trafficking, cases of stowaways, especially in Lagos ports, have continued to cause delays to vessels when they are found before vessel departure. Cases where discoveries were not made before departure have continued to burden shipowners because of the very complex administrative protocols involved in handling stowaways on ships.”
He posited that organizing the event became pertinent, having considered the disruption drug smuggling and human trafficking activities can pose to shipping operations via increased cost and the traumatic experience on seafarers.
“The goal is to align with critical agencies in making sure that Drug and Human Smuggling/Trafficking in the maritime domain are reduced; if not eradicated, perpetrators are penalized in a way innocent parties are not made to pay the price, and the industry is not deprived of its growth potentials.
“We have equally secured the support of the key agency responsible for narcotics in Nigeria, the National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which has committed to fully participating in the panel discussion. The Embassies of the United States and France, the International and local shipping companies have also shown keen interest and are set to attend the event,” he added.
[22:38, 19/08/2024] Tony Online Boss: Use